Page:A Defence of Revealed Religion.pdf/39

Rh extent that they desire. In a great measure evil counteracts itself; for when men discover that its indulgence always brings punishment, their indulgence will be less habitual. The fire of hell is the self-love that fills each heart, the punishment of hell is the inseparable attachment which ever adheres to the commission of sin; the torment of hell is the pent up rage which infernals feel when they are unable to gratify their vicious longings. Oh! Surely this is suffering acute enough; in hell wicked spirits are unable to injure the good, and their own evils re coiling upon their heads form a punishment terrible indeed.

If it is needed that our views of hell should be such as to inspire the wicked with terror and induce them to reform, we see that this can be done without picturing God as the tormentor of fallen men!

Yet God is in hell. "If I make my bed in hell, behold Thou art there." Even over these confirmed devils He watches with the eye of Providence, to mitigate their sufferings and restrain their violence. Hence it is that He permits them to be punished, that they may be restrained, and to be tormented lest they should become worse.

We may now fairly approach the consideration of the grave and solemn question of the duration of the suffering of hell. Could we not all at first thought like to cherish the idea that the suffering of each one may some time end, and he may be admitted into